'Last Resort' (Sept. 27; ABC)

'Last Resort' (Sept. 27; ABC)

ABC

If you miss "The Shield," you have two options this season. Michael Chiklis stars in CBS's "Vega$," which I don¿t recommend, mostly because it's really, really boring, and uses a $ for the "S" in its title, or this inventive drama, co-created by "Shield" mastermind Shawn Ryan. Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman star as members of the crew of a ballistic missile submarine that defies an order to attack Pakistan. The submarine is fired upon and survivors end up on an island, where they -- naturally -- declare themselves a nation (with nuclear capability). Yes, it's a bit far-fetched, and it's difficult to see how this can sustain itself as a series. But it's also tense, engrossing and intelligent.

If you miss "The Shield," you have two options this season. Michael Chiklis stars in CBS's "Vega$," which I don¿t recommend, mostly because it's really, really boring, and uses a $ for the "S" in its title, or this inventive drama, co-created by "Shield" mastermind Shawn Ryan. Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman star as members of the crew of a ballistic missile submarine that defies an order to attack Pakistan. The submarine is fired upon and survivors end up on an island, where they -- naturally -- declare themselves a nation (with nuclear capability). Yes, it's a bit far-fetched, and it's difficult to see how this can sustain itself as a series. But it's also tense, engrossing and intelligent. (ABC)

If you miss "The Shield," you have two options this season. Michael Chiklis stars in CBS's "Vega$," which I don¿t recommend, mostly because it's really, really boring, and uses a $ for the "S" in its title, or this inventive drama, co-created by "Shield" mastermind Shawn Ryan. Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman star as members of the crew of a ballistic missile submarine that defies an order to attack Pakistan. The submarine is fired upon and survivors end up on an island, where they -- naturally -- declare themselves a nation (with nuclear capability). Yes, it's a bit far-fetched, and it's difficult to see how this can sustain itself as a series. But it's also tense, engrossing and intelligent.